Here's where you want to be to see the 2026 solar eclipse
If you want the best view of the 2026 solar eclipse, you'll need to travel to Spain or Iceland.
For the best view of the 2026 solar eclipse on August 12, travel to either western Iceland or northern Spain. This eclipse marks the first total solar eclipse since 2024 and coincides with the Perseid meteor shower, making it particularly exciting for astronomy enthusiasts. Unlike the 2024 eclipse centred in North America, this one offers excellent viewing opportunities in parts of Spain and Iceland.
The path of totality, where the moon fully blocks the sun, runs through Spain and Iceland, with Látrabjargi in Iceland and Reykjavík, Isafjordur, and other cities on the western coast of Iceland providing the longest eclipse. In Spain, cities such as Bilbao, Burgos, Palma, Santander, Valencia, Valladolid, and Zaragoza will also offer a full view.
A small section of Portugal, particularly Montesinho Natural Park in Bragança, will witness the total eclipse as well. While other locations like some parts of Canada, the United States, and Europe can see a partial eclipse, the experience varies greatly. For instance, New York City will only see a 9% coverage, whereas St. John's in Newfoundland will experience 53%.
The eclipse is safest to observe only during totality, as looking at it at any other time can cause serious eye damage. Therefore, proper eye protection is crucial for all observers, either through specialized eclipse glasses, solar viewers, or safe indirect viewing methods like pinhole projectors.
Written by urgent.news from Engadget's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
